Moving Forward After the Results: How to Manage your Post-Election Blues

As expected, the election is over and social media is an open cesspool of people’s opinions on the results. Some statuses reflect people’s confusion and fear while others celebrate America’s new future.

A certain friend of mine has used Facebook these past 18 months to comfortably express her political views from the safety of her keyboard. This morning she posted a photo that read “Isn’t it funny how the liberals who condemned Trump for saying he might not accept the election results are the same people not accepting the results. [insert laughing-til-I-cry emoji]”

And it’s that fucking patronizing emoji that gets me.

I don’t like to use my Facebook to dish out thoughts that might make people uncomfortable. The website is a digital high school reunion that allows you to post photos and stay in touch with the least amount of effort, I know that. So I know it can be difficult to scroll past posts like my friend’s and have the internal debate of “Should I or shouldn’t I?”

So, here’s to all the people who prefer to keep social media a mild and neutral playground.

The results of this election have shocked and confused a great many of us.

I assure you we have accepted the results of this election, but we are still trying to make sense of this whole thing.

This is a message for both conservatives and liberals and for anyone who voted this election: it is petty and useless to demonize “the other side.” In fact, no matter which candidate you supported, all of them emphasized that we need to come together as a country, and that togetherness cannot exist if we continue to think of people as “other” or different or “us vs. them.”

Trump supporters: you won. Congratulations. You felt your voice was finally heard, but there is no sense in gloating. Trump’s victory speech emphasized unity, and that means extending an olive branch to those whose ideals might not match yours.

Clinton supporters: you are devastated. I feel for you. It seems like everything that is wrong with the country was just elected President. Find strength in each other.

Third-party supporters: I can’t say I’ve actually encountered one in real life, so I’m at a loss for comforting words.

Many must grieve the loss of the candidate who represented so much.

You deserve your grieving period.

It is a known fact that people tend to be uncomfortable around those who grieve. Often this discomfort leads to aggression, and patronizing, condescending remarks ensue. So not only did your candidate lose, but a dump truck of salt just pulled up to pour into your wound.

This was not a run-of-the-mill election. When Obama won four years ago, some people were disgruntled and disappointed. On November 8th, 2016, however, people were genuinely heartbroken and afraid. It’§s okay to be upset and scared, contrary to the posts you may see that stay “stop whining” and “get over it.” Does complaining about a president for four years count as “getting over it”? No, but Republicans did it anyways. Do as I say, not as I do, right?

However, that mourning time will come to an end, and you will have to ask yourself…

Don’t give up on the fight for equality.

“What now?”

Realize that Trump supporters are not the enemy. We have experienced a rude awakening as a country, and the hatred and bigotry that we hoped no longer existed is stronger and louder than ever.

But don’t be dismayed: America’s greatest moments come during its darkest times.

Now more then ever it is crucial for us to come together and stand up to the injustices we nervously anticipate in the coming months. We shouldn’t throw up our hands and cry because our country let us down. I mean, we shouldn’t ONLY do that.

We need to continue to fight for the social equality we believe in. Prove to the black community, the LGBTQ community, the Muslim community, the Latinx community, to all minorities that they matter, that their loss and their pain — now more than ever — matters.

Some things may be out of our hands now, but don’t stand their gaping in the wake of a devastating blow. Clench your fists and add your voice to the millions of people who share your pain. We have the potential to shape our country’s future, not through ballots, but through a discourse America desperately needs.

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